Shoe



March 17, 1942e 1 EVERSTQN 2,276,949

v SHOE Filed March 25, 1940 INVENTOR Joss/w H. EyEsra/v BY MM 44% r.TTORNEYJ.

PatentedMar. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT o-FEICEy SHOE` Joseph H.Everston, Milwaukee, Wis. v application March 25, 1940, serial No.325,765

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shoes and insoles for shoes.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a novel andimproved type of cushion insole in which provision is made for theinsertion, interchange and removal with facility of a metatarsal pad.Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon study ofthe following disclosure of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a shoe insole embodying the inventionwhich is illustrated apart from any shoe, but which is shown in the formin which it would appear in use within a shoe, the form being importantto an understanding of the invention but the remainder of the shoestructure being unimportant.

Fig. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale in longitudinal section showing aninsole of the general type illustrated in Fig. 1, but slightly modified.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a sock lining applied to theinsole of Fig. 2 and rolled forwardly, the metatarsal pad beingpositioned in the pocket provided therefor.

Fig. 4 is a. view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modied embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a further modified embodimentof the invention.

Fig. 6 is a View in a longitudinal'section showing the embodiment of theinvention in a Goodyear welt type shoe.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughoutthe several views.

As indicated above, the particular form or style of shoe is broadlyimmaterial to the present invention, but, in certain aspects of theinvention, the form in which the insole is supported Within the shoe isof some consequence and, accordingly, the invention has in everyinstance been illustrated by showing the insole in the form in which itis held when embodied in a shoe. It will, of course, be understood thatas manufactured, the insole will be at in accordance with usualpractice.

The insole generically designated by reference character 'l has aforward portion 8 which, in use, is substantially nat and is supporteddirectly from the ground by the outsole. At 9, the sole is sharplyreduced in width and formed upwardly to comprise the shank I0 beneaththe wearers instep. At II, the insole is again substantially leveled offover the heel of the shoe.

In accordance with the present invention, a cushion I5 is applied overthe entire forward portion 8 of the insole, as shown in Fig. 2 or, ifdesired, the toe portion of the cushion may be filled out by a leathertip I6, as shown in Fig. v1. It will be. understood without furtherdiscussion that these arrangements. are optionally alternative since, ineither event, the cushion supports substantially the entire weight ofthe wearers foot. The cushion may be stitched or cemented to the insoleor secured thereto in any other desired manner to be handled unitarilytherewith in the lasting of the shoe.

At its rear edge, the cushion I5 is thinned or skivedl at Il so that theupper surfaceof the cushion extends substantially iiat to the shankportionfl of the shoe. At this Vrear endV of lthe cushion, there isalsor provided a pocket shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 at 20 to receivea metatarsal pad 2|, if desired. When the cushion is stitched orcemented to the insole, the line upon which the parts are fastenedtogether does not.

follow the rear margin of the cushion, but deviates therefrom asindicated bythe line of stitching 22 in Fig. 1 to provide a pocket. Forpersons with normal feet, this pocket need. not be used and its presencewill not be apparent since the side margins of the cushion I5 wllbes'ecured to the. insole clear to the rear end ofthe cushion and the topsurface of the cushion vwill be substantially flat, as shown in Fig.-2.However, if a metatarsal pad is desired, the pocket may readily beopened by lifting the central rear end portion of the cushion andinserting the pad into the pocket there provided. In thisposition, thethinned rear marignal portions I'lv ofthe cushion willpartially overlapthe pad. By lreason of the pocket and by reasonof the fact that the padwill also extend slightly upwardly of the inclined shank portion of theinsole, the pad will be securely held in the desired position'and willnot become displaced `in use. The shank portion .y 'of the insolelikewise overlaps the pad and tends' to hold it in the pocket. However,if it is desired to interchange the large pad for a smaller one, it onlyrequires a moment to withdraw the large pad and to substitute a smallone which, despite the fact that it does not fully iill the pocket asshown in Fig. 1, will nevertheless be held by the overlap of the cushionand the shank portion of the insole securely in the desired locationbeneath the metatarsal arch of the wearer foot.

Any desired materials may be used for the cushion and pad. For example,both may be made of sponge rubber or foam rubber or one may be made ofrubber and the other of cork or the like. I have found cork bonded withrubber to be a very satisfactory material, particularly for the cushionI 5.

In actual practice, the shoe will ordinarily be supplied with a socklining 23 which usually oomprises a thin ply of leather and which, inthe present invention, will overlie the cushion I5, the metatarsal pad2I and the entire shank and heel portions I and II of the insole 1. Fig.3 shows how this sock lining may be rolled up from the rear to exposethe rear end of the cushion I and the pad 2I when it isdesired toinsert, remove or exchange the metatarsal pad.

In Fig. 4, I have shown an arrangement in which the cushion I5 whichcovers the forepart of the insole is supplemented by a cushion 24 whichcovers the shank and heel portions of the insole. In this instance, theforward end of cushion 24 abuts the rearward end of cushion I5 and noskiving is required. The two cushions together provide complementarypocket portions in which the metatarsal pad 2I is received,.it beingonly necessary to lift one of the abutting ends of the respectivecushions to obtain access to the pad. In actual practice, a sock lining23 will usually loe employed over the cushions I5 and 24 and will berolled up in the manner indicated in Fig. 3 when access to the pad isdesired.

The construction shown in Fig. 5 is one which is particularly adaptedfor use in welt shoes in which ordinarily no lining is used over theforepart of the sole` and only the heel is covered with a so-called heelpad. In the Fig. 5 construction, the cushion I5I is somewhat longer thanthe cushio'n I5 heretofore illustrated `and extends partway up the shankportion of the shoe to completely cover, instead of merely overlapping,the metatarsal pad 2 I. At its upper end, the cushion I5I is skived orthinned to merge gradually with the shank portion of the insole. It iscovered by a sock lining portion 235 which is approximately the samelength as the cushion I5I. A relatively elongated heel pad 23I is usedwhich, at its forward margin 232, preferably slightly overlaps the rearmargin of the forward sock lining portion 230. In effect, the forwardsock lining portion 233 and the elongated heel pad 23I actually comprisea two-part sock lining, the parts being slightly overlapped adjacent therear end of the metatarsal pad 2I. As is well known in the art, thevso-called pad 23I is actually not a pad but merely 'a partial socklining, usually limited to the heel portion of the insole only.

The construction shown in Fig. 6 is also adapted for use in welt shoes.In this View the outsole 35 and heel 35 are illustrated. The'fore part8B of the insole is provided with the usual inseam rib at 3.1 to whichthe upper 38 -and liner 39 and welt 40 are stitched, the latter beingalso stitched to the outsole. In addition to the above described partsconventionally fastened to the rib or flange 3'I of the insole, I mayalso last thereto the margin of a special sock lining 4I overlying thecushion I5. The sock lining need not necessarily be lasted to the ribbut may terminate ush with the cushion in the manner shown in Fig. 5 ifdesired.

It will be understood that the welting of the conventional welt typeshoe extends only around the fore part of the shoe terminating at theshank. Thus, assuming the special sock lining 4I to be fastened to thewelt or otherwise secured about the margin of the cushion I5, it will befree at its end margin 42 to overlie the pad 2I which, in this instance,is shown lapping the upper face rather than the lower face of thecushion I5, but

nevertheless in contact both with the cushion and the shank portion IIIof the insole.

In order to close and conceal the pocket formed by the sock lining andinto which the pad 2I is inserted or removed as desired, I may extendthe heel liner 43 sufficiently to lap at the insole the cushion 2| andthe sock lining ply 40.

The usual cork, plastic, or other filler is incorporated at 44 betweenthe outsole and the insole. Thus the fore part of this shoe contains anoutsole ply 35, a ller ply 44, an insole ply at 80, a cushion ply at I5,and a sock lining ply at 4I.

Of these several plies only the outsole and the insole are continuousfrom end to end of the shoe and the cushion at 2I laps all of thediscontinuous plies.

I claim:

1. The combination with an insole provided with a forward portion and anupwardly inclined shank portion, of a cushion provided with meansmarginally connecting it with the forward insole portion, said meansbeing so disposed in spaced relation to the rear margin of the cushionas to provide a pocket adjacent the shank portion of the insole and ametatarsal pad releasably positioned in said pocket and lapping saidcushion and the shank portion of the insole whereby to be positioned insaid pocket.

2. In a shoe, the combination with an insole ply, a cushion ply limitedin extent to the fore part of the shoe, and a sock lining plysubstantially co-extensive with said insole ply, of a metatarsal padlapping said cushion ply, said cushion ply and one of said other plieshaving portions above the central part of the insole mutually free ofeach other and providing a pocket opening beyond the rear end of thecushion ply in which said pad is positioned.

3. The combination with an insole having a fore portion, an upwardlyinclined shank portion, and a heel portion at a higher level than thefore portion, of a cushion ply limited in its extent to the fore portionof the insole and terminating adjacent the shank portion thereof, ametatarsal pad lapping said cushion ply, a sock lining ply over thecushion ply and at least a portion of the pad, and a heel lining plyextending forwardly from the rear portion of the insole and lapping saidpad'and said sock lining ply.

4. The combination with an insole having a shank portion, of a cushionply superimposed on the insole and extending rearwardly substantially tothe shank portion thereof, a sock lining ply marginally secured oversaid cushion ply and free thereof adjacent the insole shank portionwhereby to provide a pocket, and a metatarsal pad disposed in saidpocket and removable therefrom, said insole having an inseam rib andsaid sock lining ply being lasted over said cushion and connected aboutthe margins of the fore part of the insole with said rib.

5. The combination with an insole having a fore part and a shankportion, of a cushion ply overlying the fore part of the insole andterminating adjacent the shank portion, a sock lining ply overlying thecushion ply, means fixing one of said plies in assembly above themargins of the fore part of the insole while leaving said last mentionedply free at its rear end to provide a'pocket adjacent the shank portionof the insole, and a metatarsal pad removably disposed in said pocket,said pad lapping said cushion ply and having its rear portion in contactwith the insole.

6. The combination with an insole having a forward portion, a rearportion and an upwardly inclined intermediate shank portion, of ametatarsal pad superimposed on the insole adjacent the shank portion,and cushion plies mounted on the forward and rearward portions of theinsole and substantially abutting at said pad, said plies providing apocket in which said pad is removably disposed.

7. The combination with an insole having a forward portion, an elevatedrear portion, and an intermediate inclined shank portion, of ametatarsal pad applied to said insole in proximity to said shankportion, and a cushion ply superimposed on the insole at its forwardportion and lapping said pad, a second cushion ply applied to saidinsole at its heel portion and extending forwardly over said shankportion and lapping said pad in substantial abutment with said firstmentioned cushion ply, said cushion plies coacting with said insole toprovide a pocket in which said pad is positioned.

8. A shoe having in combination an insole ply comprising a generallyplanform forward portion and an upwardly extending shank portion, acushion ply superimposed on the forward portion of the insole ply andsubstantially co-ex'A tensive with said forward portion and providedwith a skived rear margin at said shank portion, a resilient padoverlying said skived margin and partially lapping said cushion andpartially lapping said shank portion adjacent the rear margin of thecushion, a sock lining applied to the upper surface of the cushion plyand extending at least partially over said pad, and means maintainingthe sock lining, cushion ply, and forward insole portion connected inunitarmassembly, the rear margin of the sock lining being unconnected tothe underlying plies whereby to provide a pocket in which said pad ispositioned, the connected portions of said plies including meansrestricting the forward vmovement of said pad, whereby to coni-lne it tothe specied locatio for metatarsal support. v

JOSEPH H. EVERSTON.

